Latest news with #AK-47
The South African
13 hours ago
- The South African
Five cash-in-transit suspects shot dead by police in Johannesburg
Police fatally shot five suspects during a confrontation at Crown Mines, Johannesburg, on Thursday, 24 July 2025. The incident followed a high-speed chase and shoot-out linked to a planned cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery. According to police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, officers acted on intelligence regarding a planned CIT robbery in Johannesburg. The suspects' vehicle was spotted near the M1/M2 highway split. Upon noticing the police, the suspects sped off, prompting a chase. A gun battle ensued when the suspects opened fire. The chase ended when the suspects' vehicle crashed into a palisade fence. Police shot all five suspects, and they were declared dead at the scene. Preliminary investigations found that the suspects used the same vehicle in a cash-in-transit robbery and murder in Kingsley, KwaZulu-Natal, on 14 July 2025. Police recovered an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, and explosives from inside the car. Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, praised the swift and coordinated action by various law enforcement agencies. The operation involved the National Counter-Intelligence Unit, Tactical Response Teams from Gauteng and KZN, the Hawks (DPCI), Gauteng Traffic, and private security firms. 'These collaborative efforts are yielding success and should send a strong message to criminals that police will not repose and will continue to deal decisively with criminal issues,' Mthombeni said. The police have urged the public to report criminal activity by contacting the Crime Stop Hotline on 08600 10111 or submitting anonymous tip-offs via the MySAPS app. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Ya Biladi
a day ago
- Ya Biladi
Lured into ISIS territory, acquitted Moroccans remain stuck in Somalia
Ahmed N. lives in Spain with his entire Moroccan family, his father, brothers, and sisters. But everything changed when he embarked on a trip to Turkey and ended up following a group of individuals who promised him a well-paying job. As the journey progressed, he realized he was getting pulled into something much harder to escape. Eventually, he found himself in Somalia, in the hands of ISIS. «We had all built our lives in Spain», his sister Najat told Yabiladi. «At one point, he wanted to return to Morocco to invest, but the challenges he faced pushed him to come back here. Then he went to Turkey, met people who promised to help him. He had no idea he'd end up in an area controlled by terrorist groups in Somalia». Since last year, Najat has been fighting to get her brother out of prison. Initially, the military court in Puntland sentenced him and five other Moroccan nationals to death for allegedly joining ISIS in Somalia. According to the initial judgment, the six had joined a base in the Cal-Miskaat Mountains in northeastern Somalia. Documents presented in court and reviewed by Yabiladi show that some of the Moroccan nationals arrived in Somalia after passing through Turkey and Ethiopia. At Cal Miskaat, they were said to have received training in ISIS camps, learning to handle light weapons like the AK-47. However, they eventually tried to abandon the process and escape from the group. Ahmed, who traveled from Spain via Turkey, was reportedly not involved in any military training, according to his family. His relatives and the court maintain that he was «misled into believing he could invest in agriculture» in Somalia. Once he realized he was in an ISIS-controlled zone, he found himself unable to turn back. «He reached out to the Red Crescent and local authorities on his own, and was handed over to the army. He wasn't captured during a confrontation, he surrendered voluntarily. He never considered himself part of ISIS; in fact, he saw himself as a deserter once he understood the terrorist nature of the project», Najat told us. In March 2024, several Moroccan NGOs denounced the initial verdict. Among them were the Moroccan Coalition Against the Death Penalty (CMCPM), the Association for a Fair Trial, and the Network of Lawyers Against the Death Penalty. They called on Moroccan authorities to intervene and ensure the repatriation of the six nationals. On appeal, the defense presented evidence supporting their claims, including the absence of confessions and the fact that they had tried to flee ISIS. The court took these elements into account under the provisions of the Somali Penal Code. To Ahmed's supporters, «the evidence showed that these men were victims of human trafficking». «They were lured to Somalia with promises of good jobs. Once they realized ISIS wanted to recruit them, they ran and voluntarily turned themselves in to the Puntland State police, a clear sign they rejected the group», sources close to the case told Yabiladi. In May, the Puntland military appeals court overturned the death sentences and declared all six men not guilty. The court also acknowledged that «these individuals were misled and trafficked» and, more importantly, that «they surrendered voluntarily to authorities». When they turned themselves in, they were «unarmed and there was no indication they had ever taken part in any terrorist activity… rather, they sought protection», the same sources added. The court ordered their release and initiated procedures for their return home. They were handed over to the Constitutional Affairs Administration under Somalia's Ministry of Justice to facilitate their repatriation to Morocco. «Ahmed even told us that they were in the process of being repatriated, but apparently things got held up because of inaccurate information about one of the five other Moroccans», Najat said. A Complicated Repatriation While in detention, the six men were visited by a delegation from the Puntland Parliament. During a meeting at the Garoowe prison, lawmakers were briefed on the status of detainees charged with serious crimes. Despite being cleared by the appeals court, the six men remain in «administrative detention for security reasons». According to Yabiladi's sources, «their situation is still unresolved due to a lack of diplomatic or humanitarian coordination». «Even with the court's decision, repatriation remains stalled because of logistical and political challenges. All six had their passports and ID documents confiscated by ISIS, leaving them without any valid paperwork for travel», the sources said. The political landscape in Somalia further complicates matters. The case falls under the jurisdiction of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region with its own legal and security systems, operating independently since 1998. Tensions between Puntland and the federal government in Mogadishu have made coordination with foreign embassies difficult. Moreover, «Morocco does not have a diplomatic presence in Puntland», which adds another layer of complexity, the same sources said. Back in Morocco, the families of the other detainees have reached out to various authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, the Ministry of Justice, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the National Human Rights Council (CNDH). In Spain, Ahmed's family is represented by Guillermo Santana, a lawyer with the Seville Bar Association, who is also advocating on the case. Speaking to Yabiladi, Santana explained that «numerous letters have been exchanged with Moroccan authorities, including consular services in the Spanish region, in an effort to secure repatriation». «We've received a positive response from the Moroccan side, which forwarded our requests to Rabat. We're hopeful that they will follow through», he said. However, repatriation may not mean full exoneration. Once back in Morocco, the six nationals could face investigations due to their presence in a conflict zone controlled by a terrorist group. In the meantime, their families continue to worry about the poor detention conditions, «scarce food and constant psychological pressure», and are hoping above all for the safe return of their loved ones.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Watch: CCTV captures armed robbery and explosion at Standerton filling station
Surveillance cameras at the Sasol filling station in FD Viljoen Street, Standerton, captured an armed robbery and blowing up of a drop-in safe in the kiosk this morning. Ridge Times reports that, according to Standerton police spokesperson Captain Braam Robberts, five employees and a security guard were on duty at the time of the attack. One of the petrol attendants was sitting in his private vehicle in front of the kiosk when he was ambushed by two armed suspects, believed to have approached from behind the building. The attendant was forced into the kiosk, where the rest of the staff were held at gunpoint and ordered to lie on the floor. Moments later, suspects detonated an explosive device to access the drop-in safe. A second blast targeted an ABSA ATM located at the front of the premises. Swift response leads to shoot-out In Ridge Times' initial article, the newspaper reported that Kasselman Security Services responded swiftly to the alarm, resulting in a shoot-out between a security officer and the suspects. Although several vehicles were hit by gunfire, including a Kasselman patrol vehicle and a stationary truck across the street, no injuries were reported. A vehicle believed to be a Chevrolet Cruze (make and colour unconfirmed) entered the premises and collected some of the suspects. Others reportedly fled on foot in the direction of Secunda. Surveillance footage captured at least six individuals involved in the attack. Robberts said police recovered 38 spent AK-47 cartridges at the scene, along with a projectile lodged in the trailer of the truck. An undisclosed amount of cash was stolen during the robbery. Security teams from Balfour and Secunda pursued possible escape routes out of Standerton but found no trace of the fleeing suspects. All relevant authorities attended the scene, and investigations are ongoing. Watch the videos: @ridgetimesnews Surveillance cameras at the Sasol filling station in FD Viljoen Street in Standerton captured robbers at a filling station this morning. Secunda Evander eMbalenhle standerton ♬ original sound – Ridge Times News – Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Robbers blow up ATM at filling station in Standerton, shootout ensue
The Sasol filling station in FD Viljoen Street was the scene of a violent armed robbery in the early hours of this morning (at about 01:30), during which suspects detonated explosives and exchanged gunfire with a private security company. According to Standerton police spokesperson, Captain Braam Robberts, five employees and a security guard were on duty at the time of the attack. One of the petrol attendants was sitting in his private vehicle in front of the kiosk when he was ambushed by two armed suspects, believed to have approached from behind the building. The attendant was forced into the kiosk, where the rest of the staff were held at gunpoint and ordered to lie on the floor. Moments later, suspects detonated an explosive device to access the drop-in safe. A second blast targeted an ABSA ATM located at the front of the premises. Kasselman Security Services (KSS) responded swiftly to the alarm, resulting in a shootout between a security officer and the suspects. Although several vehicles were hit by gunfire, including a Kasselman patrol vehicle and a stationary truck across the street, no injuries were reported. A vehicle believed to be a Chevrolet Cruze (make and colour unconfirmed) entered the premises and collected some of the suspects. Others reportedly fled on foot in the direction of Secunda. Surveillance footage captured at least six individuals involved in the attack. Robberts said the police recovered 38 spent AK-47 cartridges at the scene, along with a projectile lodged in the trailer of the truck. An undisclosed amount of cash was stolen during the robbery. Security teams from Balfour and Secunda pursued possible escape routes out of Standerton but found no trace of the fleeing suspects. All relevant authorities attended the scene, and investigations are ongoing.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
STF nabs arms smuggler, weapons recovered
: Police arrested a 59-year-old arms smuggler near platform number 9 of Cantt railway station in Varanasi on Tuesday. A large number of illegal weapons were found with him. The accused, Mithailal, is originally from Bhuili Khas village in Mirzapur and currently lives in Sarnath. He was caught by a joint team of the Special Task Force (STF) and Cantt police. During questioning, Mithailal told police he used to make weapons while living in rented houses in Mirzapur and Sarnath. (For representation only) On Wednesday, deputy commissioner of Police (Varuna), Pramod Kumar, said the police received a tip-off that someone was coming to the station to sell illegal arms. Based on this, the team reached the spot and arrested the accused. Police said that Mithailal had been arrested earlier as well for arms smuggling. This time, officers recovered three 9 mm pistols, a semi-made 32 bore revolver, eight live cartridges of various types including AK-47, over 10 used cartridges, 10 shells of 7.62 mm and 8 mm, five pistol magazines, tools for making arms, a train ticket, and ₹452 in cash. During questioning, Mithailal told police he used to make weapons while living in rented houses in Mirzapur and Sarnath. More than six criminal cases have already been filed against him in Cantt, Maduadih, and Sarnath police stations. These cases date back from 2005 to 2025.
